Methods, apparatus and systems for creating wellbore plugs for abandoned wells

ABSTRACT

A wellbore is plugged using a bismuth alloy. The wellbore is arranged so that a liquid bismuth alloy sets with an excess pressure of the plug relative to the borehole fluid pressure along a desired seal height distance.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to methods, apparatus and systems for creating wellbore plugs for abandoned hydrocarbon wells.

BACKGROUND

Wells for the production of hydrocarbons such as oil are created by using a drill bit supported by a drill rig to drill a borehole into an earth formation. After the borehole is drilled, sections of steel pipe, also referred to as casings, having diameters slightly smaller than the diameter of the borehole are placed in the borehole. The casings are fixed in the borehole using cement which is pumped into an annulus between the casing and the formation. The cement not only provides structural integrity to the casings, but isolates zones in the earth formation from one another. After drilling and casing, the well is “completed” by making perforations in the casing through which the hydrocarbons can pass from the surrounding formation into production tubing. Various techniques may then be used to produce the hydrocarbons from the formation.

Over the course of time, when the production of a hydrocarbon well declines to the extent that it no longer profitably produces hydrocarbons, it is common to abandon the well. In abandoning the well, production tubing is removed, and a determination is made regarding the condition of the cement in the annulus. If the cement is not deemed to be in excellent condition, it is common practice to remove the casing and the annulus cement and to fill or plug the remaining borehole with cement in order to prevent interzonal and surface communication, and contamination, as environmental factors are important, particularly in offshore settings. The cost of removing the casing and the annulus cement can be significant, e.g., millions of U.S. dollars, particularly in offshore wellbores. One reason for the significant cost is that removal of the casing and annulus cement is notoriously complicated and requires very heavy and expensive rig equipment for pulling the casing out of the wellbore.

The most common material used for plugging wells is Portland cement, which is placed in the well as a slurry that hardens in due time. A cement plug consists of a volume of cement that fills a certain length of casing or open hole to prevent vertical migration of fluids. Cement satisfies the essential criteria of an adequate plug; it is durable, has low permeability, and is inexpensive. Furthermore, it is easy to pump in place, has a reasonable setting time and is capable of tight bonding to the formation and well casing surface. It also has a sufficient mechanical strength under compression, although its tensile characteristics are its major weakness.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

According to one aspect, methods, apparatus and systems are provided for using a bismuth alloy as a plug in a wellbore and seating the plug so that it sets with an excess pressure on the alloy over the borehole fluid pressure along a desired seal height distance. The desired seal height distance is generally either regulated or an established industry practice for a wellbore, and is typically from one to five meters in length.

In one embodiment, where the plug is to be set in a non-permeable portion of a formation (e.g., a shale layer), the formation-wellbore wall interface is first prepared by carving grooves into the wall that permit liquid to escape as the alloy sets. More particularly, helical grooves may be carved, or vertical grooves connected by horizontal or angled grooves may be generated utilizing a laser. A barrier or shot-catcher may then be installed just at or below the grooved area of the formation, and the bismuth alloy is then deployed with a thermite or other suitable reaction heater to below the top of the groove(s). The heater is then initiated with electrical input sufficient to raise the temperature above the melting point of the alloy. When the alloy cools, it expands and forces any borehole fluid away from the wall, pushing fluid up and out of the groove(s). In addition, by deploying sufficient quantities of bismuth alloy, a pressure difference is established along the desired seal height distance. By way of example, a pressure difference of 50 to 60 psi may be generated by having a plug of approximately five meters in height.

In another embodiment, where the plug is to be set in a porous layer of a formation (e.g., a sandstone), the location of a cap rock (impermeable layer) for that porous layer is found. A barrier or shot-catcher may then be installed at a location in the porous layer and the bismuth alloy is deployed with a thermite or other suitable reaction heater. The heater is then initiated with electrical input sufficient to raise the temperature above the melting point of the alloy, and pressure is applied which forces the alloy into the pores of the porous layer of the formation, thereby displacing any brine at the formation—borehole interface into the formation. When the alloy cools, it expands and sets both in the pores of the porous layer and in the borehole. Sufficient quantities of bismuth alloy are deployed so that the plug extends up into the cap rock layer, and a pressure difference is established along the desired seal height distance.

In one embodiment, a tool is provided to deliver the alloy and to pressurize the alloy as it cures. The tool includes a packer that extends around a portion of the tool and engages the casing in the borehole, a fluid path including an inlet located above the packer, a pump, and a fluid outlet located below the packer, a bismuth alloy storage portion which may also store thermite or another suitable reaction heater and which is adapted to release the bismuth alloy and thermite into the target area of the borehole (e.g., an area spanning the porous layer and cap rock), and a liquid alloy position monitor whose output is used to stop the pump from pumping. In some embodiments, the liquid alloy position monitor takes the form of electrodes extending from the bottom of the tool. In some embodiments, the electrodes are mounted on a retraction arm or on arms with a sacrificial tension joint that may be broken.

In one aspect, the plugs generated using the described methods have particular structures that prevent displacement under differential pressures. By way of example, the bismuth alloy plug generated in a non-permeable (e.g., shale) formation layer includes a first solid cylinder portion with one or more ribs extending along the outer surface of this cylinder, and a second solid cylinder portion of smaller diameter than the first solid cylinder portion. In some embodiments, the first solid cylinder portion may taper at its top end toward the diameter of the second solid cylinder portion. In some embodiments, the one or more ribs are helical, while in other embodiments, the one or more ribs include some vertical ribs with some horizontal or angled ribs connecting the vertical ribs. The plug is typically at least five meters in length but less than half a meter in diameter. The ribs are typically less than one centimeter in both width and radial height.

Also, by way of example, the bismuth alloy plug generated in a porous formation layer includes a first solid cylinder portions along with branched alloy structures (a dendritic web portion) that extend from the outer surface of the first cylinder and follow the pores of the formation, and a second solid cylinder portion of smaller diameter than the first cylinder portion. Again, the top portion of the first solid cylinder portion may taper in diameter towards the diameter of the second solid cylinder portion. The plug is typically at least five meters in length but less than half a meter in diameter. The dendritic web portion of the plug may extend one, two, or even a few centimeters away from the first cylindrical portion depending on the squeezing pressure applied and the desired penetration distance required for achieving the requisite strength for preventing displacement of the plug under a differential pressure.

Additional aspects, embodiments, objects and advantages of the disclosed methods may be understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wellbore in a formation prepared for plugging at an impermeable layer.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for plugging an abandoned wellbore at an impermeable layer.

FIG. 3 a is a diagram of a first solidified plug generated in a wellbore.

FIG. 3 b is a diagram of a second solidified plug generated in a wellbore.

FIG. 3 c is a diagram of a third solidified plug generated in a wellbore.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a wellbore in a formation prepared for plugging at the interface of a permeable layer and an impermeable layer.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another method for plugging an abandoned wellbore at a permeable layer.

FIG. 6 a is a diagram of a first tool assembly located in a wellbore and adapted for plugging the wellbore.

FIG. 6 b is a diagram of a second tool assembly located in a wellbore and adapted for plugging the wellbore.

FIG. 6 c is a diagram of a third tool assembly located in a wellbore and adapted for plugging the wellbore.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a solidified plug generated in a wellbore located at the interface of a permeable layer and an impermeable layer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic of a system for plugging an offshore well.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to methods, apparatus and systems for using a bismuth alloy as a plug in a wellbore and seating the plug so that the plug sets with an excess pressure on the plug over the borehole fluid pressure along a desired seal height distance.

Generally, bismuth-tin (BiSn) alloys may be considered for use in plug-and-abandonment wells, such as offshore wells. Alloy seals may be considerably shorter than cement plugs and may be set without rigs, thereby reducing well-abandonment costs. Low melting point alloys such as those of BiSn have various advantages over cement: the alloys expand in volume during confined solidification, thereby forming a fluid-tight seal; they are inert to downhole fluids; and their strength can withstand expected compressive and tensile loads without material failure. Solid bismuth based alloys may be deposited into the borehole over a preinstalled barrier or shot-catcher. A thermite or other suitable reaction heater may be initiated with electrical input, sufficient to raise the temperature well above the melting point of the alloy. The thermite heater core tube may or may not be removed, and the expansion of the bismuth alloy during solidification may provide a seal.

However, because bismuth-tin alloys have a contact angle of about 125° (in air) on porous rock or shale surfaces encountered in the oil-field and are therefore non-wetting, there is a tendency for borehole fluid to remain between the alloy plug and the formation. More problematically, a chemical bond between the mineral rock surface and alloy does not form, and therefore a mechanical friction fit is relied upon. Thus, under certain differential pressure conditions, the alloy plug may undergo undesirable displacement.

The methods, apparatus and systems of the present disclosure are directed towards two primary scenarios: a first scenario where the plug is to be set in an impermeable layer of a formation; and a second scenario where the plug is to be set in a permeable layer of a formation at a location to adjacent an impermeable cap rock in addition to its setting at the impermeable section.

According to one aspect, methods, apparatus and systems are provided for the plugging of an offshore wellbore. The methods, apparatus and systems are directed to wireline (WL), slickline, or coiled tubing applications which may be deployed, e.g., from an offshore production platform or from a ship (boat). For purposes herein, “wireline” is defined as a cabling technology used to lower equipment or measurement devices (also called “tools” or a “tool string”) from a surface into oil and gas wells, where signals (data) may be transmitted via the cable from the equipment or measurement device to the surface. For purposes herein, “slickline” is defined as a non-electric cable, usually single-stranded, that is used to place, recover, or adjust wellbore equipment such as plugs, gauges and valves in oil and gas wells. Typically, slicklines do not transmit data. For purposes herein, “coiled tubing” is defined as a very long metal pipe which is supplied spooled on a large reel and used to carry out operations similar to wireline operations; i.e., to lower equipment or measurement devices (also called “bottom hole assemblies”) at the bottom of the tubing from a surface into oil and gas wells. Slicklines, wirelines, and coiled tubing are raised and lowered in the well from a surface which may be a platform, a ship, or the formation itself and do not require the use of heavy rigs, such as might be required for removal of casing from a wellbore. Thus, according to one aspect, the methods, apparatus and systems for plugging an offshore wellbore may be directed to “rigless” methods, apparatus, and systems, where for purposes of this document, the terms “rigless” or “without a rig” are defined as methods, apparatus and systems that are equipped to intervene in a well, but not designed for or capable of pulling hundreds of meters of casing out of a wellbore without using a rig. A defining aspect of what is considered “rigless” or “without a rig” for purposes herein is the use of wireline or coiled tubing to relay an intervention tool into a well. A defining feature of a coiled tubing or wireline, i.e., as meant herein for defining a “rigless” intervention, is the storage of the wireline or coiled tubing by way of spooling around a drum or other cylindrical storage device. In contrast, a “rig” that is capable of pulling hundreds of meters of casing out of a hydrocarbon wellbore requires a structure such as a derrick, to sequentially add/remove long, heavy and rigid lengths of pipe, that are incapable of functionally being stored by being flexibly spooled around a drum or other cylindrical container.

Turning to FIG. 1 , an offshore abandoned wellbore 100 is seen extending downward from a sea floor 101 and having a wall 104, a casing 106 along a portion of the wall, and cement 108 therebetween. The wellbore 100 extends through a formation 110 having multiple layers. An impermeable shale layer 120 is identified for receiving a plug A portion 121 of the shale layer 120, and is shown prepared with the casing and cement removed and with one or more notches or grooves 122 which are etched into the wellbore wall 104 with a laser tool (e.g., a tool such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,901 to Underwood, et al., or in U.S. Pat. No. 8,701,794 to Zediker et al.). For purposes herein, the words “notch” and “groove” are used interchangeably and are to be broadly interpreted to include, but not be limited to a channel, trench, hollow, indentation, slot, and cleft. The one or more notches 122 are continuous along at least a portion of the wall where a first cylindrical portion of the plug is to be located. In one embodiment, the one or more notches are helical. In another embodiment, the one or more notches include vertical notches which are connected by notches having a horizontal component such as horizontal or angled notches. In one embodiment, in addition to the notches along the wellbore wall 104, one or more additional notches 123 (continuous to notches 122) in, e.g., a spiral form or in concentric circles connected by radial spokes are formed on a shoulder 124 between the cement and casing and the impermeable rock. The spiral or concentric circular notch(es) is/are of increasing depth (height) with depth increasing towards the casing. In another embodiment, the shoulder 124 between the cement and casing and the impermeable rock may be tapered. The tapered shoulder 124 may include or define the notch(es) 123. A shot-catcher (or umbrella) 129 is shown located in the borehole. Examples of plugs that may get generated as a result of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 are seen in FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and discussed hereinafter.

A method for plugging a wellbore is shown in FIG. 2 . At 200, a non-porous portion of a formation (e.g., a shale layer) is identified. The impermeable shale layer 120 may be identified by review of logs of the well and/or formation previously generated in order to explore and/or exploit the formation. In one embodiment, the shale layer 120 that is identified is a relatively thick shale layer (e.g., tens of meters thick) that is closest to the surface of the formation (i.e., the seabed). At 210, the formation—wellbore wall interface is prepared by removing the casing and cement and carving one or more grooves into the wellbore wall for liquid escape as described hereinafter. More particularly, one or more helical grooves may be carved, or vertical grooves connected by horizontal or angled grooves may be generated utilizing, e.g., a laser. At 220, a barrier, umbrella or shot-catcher may then be opened out (i.e., deployed using a barrier deployment tool) just at or below the grooved area of the formation. At 225, a determination is made as to the minimum amount of bismuth alloy (e.g., bismuth-tin alloy) required to obtain a desired sealing of the wellbore as discussed in more detail hereinafter. At 230, a tool containing at least the minimum amount of bismuth alloy and a thermite or other suitable reaction heater is situated in the borehole, e.g., using wireline, slickline or coiled tubing, and at 240, the bismuth alloy and thermite is released to fill the borehole from the barrier up to the top of the prepared area and into a section of the cased portion of the borehole. The heater is then initiated with an electrical input at 250 and is sufficient to raise the temperature above the melting point of the alloy, thereby melting the alloy. As the alloy cools at 260, due to a pressure difference and buoyancy, it forces any borehole fluid away from the wall, and pushes the fluid up and out of the groove(s). The alloy also expands as it solidifies, but as it is not necessarily confined, the pressure difference and buoyancy are useful Any borehole fluid arriving at the shoulder is directed by the taper of the shoulder and/or by grooves in the shoulder to the cased section where it may float to the surface. By deploying at least the minimum quantity of bismuth alloy, a pressure difference between the resident borehole fluid and the alloy is established along the desired seal height distance of the resulting plug.

In order to generate a pressure difference along the seal distance, it will be appreciated that the bismuth alloy pressure must be greater than the pressure in the brine (borehole fluid) below the bismuth alloy. Since the formation at the location of the plug is impermeable, any brine trapped at the wall of the borehole will not naturally be pushed out by the bismuth alloy expansion during solidification. Accordingly, the continuous grooves are provided, so that through buoyancy, an escape pathway for the brine is available. Continuous pathway enables pressure continuity of the connected brine, so that the gravity head of the alloy over the brine provides the needed pressure difference to remove the resident brine. Otherwise, any increase in the alloy pressure over the static pressure, i.e., ΔP_(A), will elevate both the alloy and the brine pressure. Therefore, the gravity head for the alloy is relied upon as being larger over a given height compared to the brine in order to buoyantly remove the brine.

In order to achieve a desired ΔP_(A), a melted alloy height H is required according to:

$\begin{matrix} {H \geq {\frac{\Delta\; P_{A}}{\left( {\rho_{A} - \rho_{w}} \right)g} + H_{m}}} & (1) \end{matrix}$ where ρ_(A) and ρ_(w) are the densities of the bismuth alloy and borehole brine respectively, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and H_(m) is the minimum seal height desired.

In one embodiment, in order to be conservative, an alloy height of H_(c) is added, where H_(c) is the height of the area where the casing has been removed such that

$\begin{matrix} {H = {\frac{\Delta\; P_{A}}{\left( {\rho_{A} - \rho_{w}} \right)g} + H_{m} + H_{c}}} & (2) \end{matrix}$ By way of example, a pressure difference of approximately 50 psi may be generated by having a plug of approximately five meters in height.

The volumetric amount of bismuth alloy required to generate the desired plug height H (as determined by either equation (1) or equation (2)) is determined from V=πr _(c) ² H+π(r _(b) ² −r _(c) ²)H _(c) +V _(C) +V _(R) +V _(u),  (3) where r_(b) is the radius of the prepared area (which may extend up to the borehole wall or beyond the borehole wall and into the formation) and is known, r_(c) is the radius of the casing and is known, V_(C) is the volume of the etched channel(s) and is known (and generally de minimis), V_(u) is the volume in the umbrella and is known, and V_(R) is the volume of the casing removed in the section above the cavity of radius r_(b), (if any, and is generally de minimis in any event) and is known. For purposes herein, the volume V is said to “substantially equal” the first two terms of equation (3) plus V_(u) as V_(C) and V_(R) are generally de minimis. If the prepared area has a tapered portion, the V should be adjusted accordingly to include the taper volume. Again, in one embodiment, that adjustment may be considered de minimis such that the volume V may still be said to “substantially equal” the first two terms of equation (3) plus V_(u).

It is noted that the volume V may be calculated by hand or by or through the use of a processor.

With the bismuth alloy having been deployed into the wellbore, having been heated to make it liquid and then cooled so as to force out the brine, a solid plug is generated. One example of such a solidified plug generated in a wellbore is seen in FIG. 3 a where plug 300 a is shown having a first cylindrical body portion 310 a, a second cylindrical body portion 312 a of smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion, a first end 315 a shaped by the shape of the shot-catcher (e.g., conical), and one or more threads 320 a (only one shown) extending around and helically running along the first cylindrical body portion 310 a to the top of the first cylindrical body portion 310 a. A possible spiral thread 323 increasing in height from outside to inside is also shown in phantom.

Another example of a solidified plug that might be generated in the wellbore is seen in FIG. 3 b . Plug 300 b is shown having a first cylindrical body portion 310 b, a second cylindrical body portion 312 b having a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion, a first end 315 b shaped by the shape of the shot-catcher, a plurality of vertical ribs 320 bv extending along the first cylindrical body portion to the top of the first cylindrical body portion as well as a plurality of horizontal ribs 320 bh connecting the vertical ribs. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, instead of horizontal ribs, the plug might have angled (arced) ribs connecting the vertical ribs. In fact, combinations of one or more of helical, vertical, horizontal, and arced ribs may get generated depending upon the etching of the impermeable formation layer provided that the etching generated one or more pathways for fluid to escape up and away from the formation wall as the bismuth alloy solidifies. The ribs or the spiral grooves also provide hindrance to displacement of the plug.

Yet a third example of a solidified plug that might be generated in the wellbore is seen in FIG. 3 c . Plug 300 c is shown having a first cylindrical body portion 310 c, a second cylindrical body portion 312 c of smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion, a tapered portion 314 c at the top of the first cylindrical body portion 310 c which tapers in diameter to the diameter of the second cylindrical body portion 312 c, a first end 315 c shaped by the shape of the shot-catcher (e.g., conical), and one or more threads 320 c (only one shown) extending around and helically running along the first cylindrical body portion 310 c to the top of the first cylindrical body portion 310 c.

While FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a-3 c are directed to plugging a wellbore at an impermeable layer of the formation, FIGS. 4, 5, 6 a-6 c and 7 are directed to plugging a wellbore at a permeable layer of the formation. As seen in FIG. 4 , a wellbore 400 in a formation extends downward from a sea floor 401 and has a wall 404, a casing 406 along a portion of the wall, and cement 408 between the casing and the wall. The wellbore 400 extends through a formation 410 having multiple layers. A permeable layer (e.g., sandstone) 420 a which is capped by an impermeable layer 420 b (e.g., shale) is identified for receiving a plug. The permeable layer 420 a is shown prepared with the casing and cement removed adjacent to the interface of a permeable layer and the impermeable cap layer. As a result, the diameter of the borehole at the impermeable layer 420 b where the casing 406 and cement 408 are located is shown as r_(c), while the diameter of the borehole at the permeable layer 420 a and in the impermeable layer where the casing and cement have been removed is shown as r_(b). Again, r_(b) is the radius of the prepared area which may extend up to the borehole wall (i.e., the cement-formation interface) or beyond the borehole wall and into the formation. The diameter to which the bismuth alloy penetrates the formation (as discussed hereinafter) is shown as r_(p). The height of the permeable layer from the shotcatcher 429 to the impermeable layer is shown as h, and the height of the area from which the casing and cement are removed in both the permeable layer and impermeable layer is shown as H_(c).

A method for plugging the wellbore 400 is shown in FIG. 5 . At 500, a porous portion of a formation (e.g., a sandstone layer) having an impermeable cap layer (e.g., a shale layer) is identified. The porous portion of the formation having an impermeable cap layer may be identified by review of logs of the well and/or formation previously generated in order to explore and/or exploit the formation. In one embodiment, the cap layer that is identified is a relatively thick shale layer (e.g., tens of meters thick) that is closest to the surface of the formation (i.e., the seabed). At 510, the formation-wellbore wall interface is prepared by removing the casing, cement, and possibly a part of the formation at the impermeable layer. This section resembles a cavity within the wellbore. Optionally, the impermeable cap layer wall (and shoulder) may also be etched with a laser or other device to form channels as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 . Also as previously described, optionally, the formation-wellbore interface may be prepared with a tapered shoulder. At 520, a barrier or shot-catcher may then be installed just at or below the prepared area of the formation. At 525, a determination is made as to the amount of bismuth alloy (e.g., bismuth-tin alloy) required to obtain a desired sealing of the wellbore (as discussed in more detail hereinafter). At 530, a tool containing at least the required amount of bismuth alloy and a thermite or other suitable reaction heater is situated in the borehole, e.g., using wireline, slickline or coiled tubing, and at 540, the bismuth alloy and thermite is released to fill the borehole from the barrier upward. The heater is then initiated (with electrical input) at 550 and is sufficient to raise the temperature above the melting point of the alloy, thereby melting the alloy and at 555, pressure is applied as described hereinafter to the liquid alloy to force some of the alloy into the porous layer, thereby pushing borehole liquid (brine) into the formation. Optionally, at 560 the height of the liquid alloy in the borehole and above the porous layer is monitored in order to prevent too much movement of the alloy into the porous layer with a concomitant decrease in plug height. The height of the liquid alloy may be used as feedback to control the pressure application. When the alloy cools at 565, it expands upon solidification and a pressure difference is established along the desired seal height distance.

According to one aspect, in selecting the amount of alloy to utilize, the following points are considered. After alloy pellets are delivered and melted, the height of the molten alloy should be more than the borehole height H_(m) (the design specification for the minimum height requirement of the alloy over the shale interval) over which the alloy is intended to be set. The pressure that is applied at 555 may be applied in different manners. For example, the pressure may be applied through a water column above the molten alloy through the use of a surface pump so that the elevation in the bottom-hole pressure is nearly the same as the intended intrusion pressure. Alternatively, and as described hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 6 a -6 c, a packer may be set above the interval with an internal pump within the tool that pumps fluids from above the packer into the packed-off region.

Turning to the second alternative first, the borehole may be only partially filled with brine. This means that the formation pressure is less than the hydrostatic head in a filled borehole. With a schematic representation of the plug region as shown in FIG. 4 , it should be understood that r_(b), H_(m), V_(C) and h are fixed, where V_(C) is the volume of the channels etched on the shale surface (if any), and r_(p) is assumed. For this chosen geometry, the volume of alloy, V_(A), that penetrates into the permeable layer can be calculated by π(r _(p) ² −r _(b) ²)φh+π(r _(p) −r _(b))(r _(p) ² −r _(c) ²)φ=V _(A)  (4) where, φ is the porosity, and as set forth above, h is the porous bed height (into which alloy is to be pushed), r_(c) is the casing radius, r_(b) is the borehole radius, and r_(p) is the penetration radius. It is noted that the volume from the equation is slightly larger than the volume of alloy penetrating the formation because an assumption is made that the cement behind the casing has the same penetration volume as the formation. This is usually an over-estimate. It is also noted that the height across the impermeable layer does not contribute to the penetration volume of the alloy, except for what is present in the surface channels (if any).

At the bottom of the prepared portion of the formation, an umbrella may be set to prevent alloy from dropping below the prepared portion. If the volume within the umbrella container is V_(u), the total alloy volume V_(TA) other than the cylindrical portion of the plug may be calculated according to V _(TA) =V _(A) +V _(C) +V _(u).  (5) The minimum volume of the alloy in the rest of the borehole V_(a) may be calculated by V _(α) =πr _(b) ²(H _(c) −h)+πr _(b) ² h+πr _(c) ²(H−H _(c))+V _(R) +V _(T)  (6) where H_(c) is the height of the area from which the casing and cement are removed in both the permeable layer and impermeable layer (as previously described), V_(R) is the casing volume removed above H_(c) (if any), and V_(T) is the volume of the tapered area (if any). Thus, the minimum required total alloy volume where the plug is being set partially in a permeable portion of the formation (V_(p)) is calculated as V_(p)=V_(TA)+V_(α). It will be appreciated that V_(p) may be calculated manually or through the use of a processor.

According to one aspect, after setting the bottom umbrella, and before dropping the bismuth alloy pellets, a good contact of the brine with the formation is maintained. A simple injection of water into the borehole may be used to increase the pressure in the borehole by ΔP_(w) resulting in an influx of water q_(w)(t) into the permeable layer. For injection controlled from the surface, the volume added to the borehole in order to maintain the same pressure may be measured, and q_(w)(t) may be inferred over a sufficiently long interval such that storage effects are not relevant. For an interval set with a packer, the pumping rate into the interval can be monitored in order to maintain the pressure increase. Alternatively, the pressure may be elevated by pumping liquid either at the surface or into the packed-off interval as the case may be. Knowing the compressibility of the pumped brine, and the decay rate of pressure after pumping is stopped, the flow rate may also be estimated, after ignoring log(t) dependence on pressure-drop versus flow rate dependence, i.e., the average flow rate over a specified time interval is sufficient. Now, in order to estimate the alloy flow rate, a zeroth-order approximation may be utilized

$\begin{matrix} {{{q_{A}(t)} = {\frac{\mu_{w}\Delta\; P_{A}}{\mu_{A}\Delta\; P_{w}}{q_{w}(t)}}},} & (7) \end{matrix}$ where P_(A) is the pressure of the molten alloy during intrusion and q_(A) is the alloy flow rate. The time for alloy to penetrate a distance r_(p) is determined according to

$\begin{matrix} {{T = \frac{V_{A}}{q_{A}(t)}},} & (8) \end{matrix}$ which may be set to a desired value by adjusting the pressure P_(A).

It will be appreciated that there are complicating factors in attempting to control the bismuth alloy flow rate into the formation by adjusting pressure. For example, while the temperature in the borehole is elevated through the igniting of a chemical source, the resulting thermal profile should stay above the melting point of the alloy to a distance r_(p) for the time T. But the alloy flow rate q_(A) cannot be arbitrarily raised without limit simply by increasing ΔP_(A) without limit. Once the pressure limit is reached, T cannot be reduced any further and this defines T_(m), a minimum time. From a design point, once T_(m) becomes the limit, r_(p) must be computed based on q_(A)(t) obtained with the maximum ΔP_(A). If this r_(p) is insufficient to achieve the necessary plug strength, then the height h must be adjusted to be larger to meet the requirements necessary to prevent dislodging of the plug.

According to one aspect, it may be desirable to use a downhole system (as described hereinafter) to build pressure on the molten alloy since the necessary column height required to reach ΔP_(A) may exceed the time for temperature at r_(p) to stay above the melting point.

In the situation where the borehole is completely filled with brine, it will be appreciated that the formation pressure is greater than the borehole pressure. A further elevation in alloy pressure is required in order to have it enter the porous rock. Unlike the previous case where the borehole was assumed to be only partially filled with brine, and given the lack of an air column, the bottom-hole pressure may be rapidly increased by pumping brine into the wellbore at the surface. Monitoring the pressure at the well-head for building up the requisite elevation in pressure in order to equal ΔP_(A) may be an acceptable solution, although a downhole wireline-conveyed pump could also be utilized and in one embodiment could be advantageous in being able to reduce the time required to achieve the necessary pressure elevation.

In some instances, a ΔP_(A) limit to prevent unlimited intrusion into the rock may not be known. In reality, intrusion will not be unlimited since the upper limit for r_(p) is restricted by the temperature profile of the formation. In particular, beyond a certain radius, the formation temperature will stay below the alloy melting point, and penetration of the molten alloy significantly beyond that radius is unlikely. If this radial location becomes (unnecessarily) large, the cavity may not be completely filled with the bismuth alloy, and as a result, the plug height may become smaller (shorter) than the regulatory requirement or recommendation developed through historical practice of the art with cement plugs. Therefore, it may be desirable to limit the volume of intruded alloy, by setting an upper value for the net pumped volume of brine into the isolated section of the well-bore interval or into the borehole at the surface. For cases where a downhole pump with an isolated packed-off interval is deployed, this is easily implemented, and an upper limit on the pumped volume may be set. The expansion volume of the alloy upon solidification does not need to be accounted for since the net volume limit for pumping is calculated based on V_(A), and is approximately equal to the pumped volume.

According to one aspect, the limit method described may have certain drawbacks due to volume expansion and contraction resulting from the heating and thermite reaction products. For example, upon melting, there is a volume reduction in alloy, which in turn will reduce pressure, but this is likely to be more than offset by the volumetric expansion of borehole brine due to increase in temperature. Therefore, pressure is likely to increase rather decrease. With migration into the formation, and temperature reduction due to heat loss, the pressure may drop below the intrusion ΔP_(A) and therefore continued pumping may be needed to maintain it. However, pumping should stop once the alloy level drops to H_(m) (with some tolerance) across the impermeable region since no further intrusion is desirable in the permeable region.

According to one embodiment, a simple level switch that monitors the liquid alloy position is sufficient to ensure a limit on intrusion volume. The level switch may be implemented using two point or ring or bar electrodes mounted on a sonde, the resistance across which is monitored, with the electrodes set just above the desired plug height. Upon a precipitous drop in conductance at this height (indicating that the alloy has dropped below that point), pumping may be stopped instantly. Any continued intrusion of alloy into the porous layer will lead to a decrease in pressure. But back-flow of alloy into well-bore is not possible since water sitting above the permeable layer cannot easily imbibe into the impermeable layer. Therefore, the system remains stable without further intrusion until solidification. The consequence is that the volume of the alloy being forced into the permeable layer is limited. In other words, by measuring conductance at a particular height in the borehole and controlling pumping based on a change in the conductance at that particular height, alloy intrusion distance may be directly controlled.

FIG. 6 a is a diagram of a tool assembly located in a wellbore 600 and adapted for plugging the wellbore. The tool assembly 670 a may include a packer 672 a. The packer 672 a is shown deployed and extending around a portion of the tool near the top of the tool and engaging the casing in the borehole. Also shown is a fluid path including an inlet 674 a located above the packer 672 a, a pump 676 a, and a fluid outlet 678 a located below the packer, a bismuth alloy storage chamber 680 a which stores the bismuth alloy and may also store thermite or another suitable reaction heater and which is adapted to release the bismuth alloy and thermite into the target area of the wellbore 600, and an electrode assembly 685 a which acts as a liquid alloy position monitor and is located at the bottom of the tool assembly. The tool 670 a may also include a controller 688 a coupled to both the electrode assembly 685 a and the pump 676 a. The controller 688 a uses the output of the electrode assembly to control the pump 676 a, i.e., to stop the pump when the electrode assembly indicates that the conductance being measured has dropped.

According to one aspect, since the alloy expands as it solidifies once pumping is stopped, there is a chance that the electrode assembly 685 a, and hence the tool assembly 670 a may be “frozen in” by the alloy. Thus, in one embodiment, the electrodes are mounted on a detachable mount that may be left behind. Alternatively, the electrodes may be protruding pin electrodes (as suggested by FIG. 6 a ) with a sacrificial tension joint that may be broken off. Replacement electrodes may be provided on the tool for later use in another borehole. As another alternative, the electrode assembly 685 a may be provided with the necessary electronics to drive a finite current through the electrodes for measuring conductance. If the electrodes are detected to be frozen in by friction, the alloy directly around the electrodes may be melted through additional circuitry by resistive heating thereby permitting the tool with its electrodes to be pulled out.

Another tool assembly adapted to plug a wellbore is seen in FIG. 6 b . Tool assembly 670 b is similar to tool assembly 670 a in that it may include a packer 672 b (shown deployed and extending around a portion of the tool near the top of the tool and engaging the casing in the borehole), a fluid path including an inlet 674 b located above the packer 672 b, a pump 676 b, and a fluid outlet 678 b located below the packer, a bismuth alloy storage chamber (not shown) which stores the bismuth alloy and may also store thermite or another suitable reaction heater and which is adapted to release the bismuth alloy and thermite into the target area of the wellbore 600, and an electrode assembly 685 b which acts as a liquid alloy position monitor and is located at the bottom of the tool assembly. The tool 670 b may also include a controller 688 b coupled to both the electrode assembly 685 b and the pump 676 b. The controller 688 b uses the output of the electrode assembly to control the pump 676 b; i.e., to stop the pump when the electrode assembly indicates that the conductance being measured has dropped.

As seen in FIG. 6 b , the electrode assembly 685 b is provided with telescoping pistons 690 b so that the electrode assembly may be retracted via linear actuation; i.e., pulled back toward the body of the tool. In order to avoid a resulting pressure variation, the tool assembly 600 b is shown to include a fluid reservoir cavity 692 b that has holes for pressure and fluid communication and which dispenses a volume of fluid into the borehole equal to the volume displacement of the retracted electrode assembly. Thus, no pressure change occurs within the isolated section of the borehole.

Another embodiment of a tool assembly for plugging a wellbore is seen in FIG. 6 c . Tool assembly 670 c is similar to tool assemblies 670 a and 670 b in that it may include a packer 672 c (shown deployed and extending around a portion of the tool near the top of the tool and engaging the casing in the borehole), a fluid path including an inlet 674 c located above the packer 672 c, a pump 676 c, and a fluid outlet 678 c located below the packer, a bismuth alloy storage chamber 680 c which stores the bismuth alloy and may also store thermite or another suitable reaction heater and which is adapted to release the bismuth alloy and thermite into the target area of the wellbore 600, and an electrode assembly 685 c which acts as a liquid alloy position monitor and is located at the bottom of the tool assembly. The tool 670 c may also include a controller 688 c coupled to both the electrode assembly 685 c and the pump 676 c. The controller 688 c uses the output of the electrode assembly to control the pump 676 c; i.e., to stop the pump when the electrode assembly indicates that the conductance being measured has dropped.

As seen in FIG. 6 c , the electrode assembly 685 c includes a plurality of electrode pairs 695 which are adapted to detect conductance transition along the depth of the well and accordingly permit the controller 688 c to ascertain the position of the alloy. The intrusion rate of alloy into the permeable layer then may be inferred from the rate of change of position and temperature in order to account for alloy expansivity. Based on this, an estimation may be made as to when the sonde bottom may be cleared of the alloy (including solidification), and the pump 676 c may be stopped accordingly.

Using any of the tools of FIGS. 6 a-6 c , or any other tool permitting pressure to be applied to the bismuth alloy, and using the method of FIG. 5 , a bismuth alloy plug is generated in the wellbore. FIG. 7 is a diagram of a solidified plug 700 generated in a wellbore located at the interface of a permeable layer and an impermeable layer. Plug 700 is shown having a first cylindrical body portion 710, a dendritic web 711 (almost like a fuzzy beard) taking the form of the pores of the formation extending around the outer surface of a lower portion of the first cylindrical body portion, a second cylindrical body portion 712 of smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion extending above the first cylindrical body portion, a first end 715 shaped by the shape of the shot-catcher (e.g., conical) extending below the first cylindrical body portion. In some embodiments, where the impermeable layer is etched before plug formation, the plug 700 may include one or more threads 720 extending around and running upwards along the top portion of the first cylindrical body portion. As with plugs 300 a and 300 b, these threads may be helical, and/or may include a combination of (i) vertical and (ii) horizontal or arced ribs. In addition, as previously described with respect to FIGS. 3 a-3 c , in some embodiments, the top portion of the first cylindrical body portion 710 may be tapered, and in some embodiments, a shoulder of the plug at the intersection of the first and second cylindrical body portions may have a spiral or concentric connected rings increasing in depth toward the middle of the plug.

Turning now to FIG. 8 , a schematic diagram is provided for a system for the rigless plugging an offshore wellbore 800. Wellbore 800 is seen traversing a formation 810 having a surface at seabed 801. A ship 890 is shown floating above the wellbore, and a cable or coil 892 (e.g., a wireline, slickline or coiled tube) is shown extending from the ship down into the wellbore 800. Extending from the cable or coil is a laser tool 899 as previously described which is used for preparing the wellbore-formation wall interface according to any of the previously described arrangements. In one embodiment, a tool string is provided with the laser tool 899 and a bismuth alloy plug generation tool assembly 870 such as previously described with respect to any of tools 670 a, 670 b and 670 c. If desired, a separate barrier (umbrella) deployment tool (not shown) may be part of the string. Where the tool string is provided, the laser tool is located above the bismuth alloy plug generation tool so that the laser tool can prepare a portion of the wellbore, and then the tool string may be pulled upward to locate the umbrella or barrier just below the prepared area of the wellbore, and the bismuth alloy plug generation tool above the prepared area of the wellbore. Alternatively, the laser tool 899 may be run separately from the bismuth alloy plug generation tool assembly 870 (and barrier deployment tool), so that the laser tool 899 is first deployed from the ship to prepare the wellbore-formation wall interface. When the preparation is completed, the laser tool 899 is withdrawn, and the bismuth alloy plug generation tool assembly 870 is deployed.

Some of the methods and processes described above can be performed by a processor. The term “processor” should not be construed to limit the embodiments disclosed herein to any particular device type or system. The processor may include a computer system. The computer system may also include a computer processor (e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, or general purpose computer) for executing any of the methods and processes described above.

The computer system may further include a memory such as a semiconductor memory device (e.g., a RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash-Programmable RAM), a magnetic memory device (e.g., a diskette or fixed disk), an optical memory device (e.g., a CD-ROM), a PC card (e.g., PCMCIA card), or other memory device.

Some of the methods and processes described above can be implemented as computer program logic for use with the computer processor. The computer program logic may be embodied in various forms, including a source code form or a computer executable form. Source code may include a series of computer program instructions in a variety of programming languages (e.g., an object code, an assembly language, or a high-level language such as C, C++, or JAVA). Such computer instructions can be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., memory) and executed by the computer processor. The computer instructions may be distributed in any form as a removable storage medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over a communication system (e.g., the Internet or World Wide Web).

Alternatively or additionally, the processor may include discrete electronic components coupled to a printed circuit board, integrated circuitry (e.g., Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)), and/or programmable logic devices (e.g., a Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)). Any of the methods and processes described above can be implemented using such logic devices.

Although several example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for the rigless plugging of an offshore wellbore having a casing and cement surrounding the casing and traversing a formation, comprising: locating an impermeable layer of the formation; preparing an interface of the formation and the wellbore in the impermeable layer by using a tool extended into the wellbore to remove the casing and cement along a selected portion of the wellbore along the impermeable layer to form a cavity with a shoulder, and etching at least one continuous groove in the impermeable layer at the interface to generate a pathway for borehole fluid to move upwards and above the prepared interface; deploying, using a wellbore bismuth alloy deployment tool, a bismuth alloy into the wellbore at the prepared interface and into the casing above the prepared interface; causing the deployed bismuth alloy to become liquid; permitting the bismuth alloy to solidify in the wellbore to form a plug in the wellbore at the prepared interface and into the casing above the prepared interface, wherein a pressure difference between the alloy as it solidifies along a desired seal height distance and a fluid pressure in the wellbore below the alloy of the plug forces fluid in the pathway upwards.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein etching the at least one continuous groove comprises etching at least one helical groove.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein etching the at least one continuous groove comprises etching a plurality of vertical grooves and a plurality of horizontal grooves connecting the vertical grooves.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the interface further comprises etching at least one second groove in fluid communication with the at least one continuous groove into unremoved cement located at the shoulder between the casing and the impermeable layer.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to deploying the bismuth alloy into the wellbore, deploying a barrier in the wellbore just at or below the at least one continuous groove in the impermeable layer at the interface.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, determining an amount of bismuth alloy to deploy, wherein determining the amount of bismuth alloy comprises determining a volume of bismuth alloy V substantially according to V=πr_(c) ²H+π(r_(b) ²−r_(c) ²)H_(c)+V_(u), wherein r_(b) is the radius of the cavity, r_(c) is the radius of the casing, V_(u) is the volume in the barrier below the cavity, H_(c) is the height of the cavity where the casing and cement is removed, and H is a melted alloy height required to obtain the pressure difference.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the interface further comprises angling the shoulder to cause the cavity to taper.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises the solidified bismuth alloy having a solid first cylindrical body portion, a solid second cylindrical body portion of smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion, a shoulder being defined at a transition from the first cylindrical body portion to the second cylindrical body portion, and at least one continuous thread extending around and running along the first cylindrical body portion to the top of the first cylindrical body portion.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plug further comprises a spiral thread extending from the shoulder and around an outer sidewall of the second cylindrical body portion, and wherein the spiral thread increases in height as the spiral thread moves from an outer sidewall of the first cylindrical body portion and toward the outer sidewall of the second cylindrical body portion.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool is extended into the wellbore by a wireline, a slickline, or a coiled tubing.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the at least one continuous groove is less than a height of the cavity.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one continuous groove has a width of less than 1 centimeter.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one continuous groove is etched with a laser.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the interface further comprises etching at least one spiral groove into unremoved cement located at the shoulder between the casing and the impermeable layer, and wherein a depth of the spiral groove increases as the spiral groove moves away from the impermeable layer toward the casing.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the interface further comprises etching a plurality of concentric grooves and a plurality of radial grooves that connect the plurality of concentric grooves into unremoved cement located at the shoulder between the casing and the impermeable layer, and wherein a depth of the plurality of concentric grooves increases from the impermeable layer toward the casing.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein etching the at least one continuous groove comprises etching a plurality of vertical grooves and a plurality of grooves having an arced component connecting the vertical grooves.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises the solidified bismuth alloy having a solid first cylindrical body portion, a solid second cylindrical body portion of smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion, a shoulder being defined at a transition from the first cylindrical body portion to the second cylindrical body portion, a plurality of vertical ribs extending along the first cylindrical body portion to the top of the first cylindrical body portion, and a plurality of horizontal ribs, a plurality of arced ribs, or a combination thereof connecting the vertical ribs.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises the solidified bismuth alloy having a solid first cylindrical body portion, a solid second cylindrical body portion of smaller diameter than the first cylindrical body portion, a tapered portion at the top of the first cylindrical body portion that tapers in diameter to the diameter of the second cylindrical body portion, and at least one continuous thread extending around and running along the first cylindrical body portion to the top of the first cylindrical body portion.
 19. A method for the rigless plugging of an offshore wellbore having a casing and cement surrounding the casing and traversing a formation, comprising: locating an impermeable layer of the formation; preparing an interface of the formation and the wellbore in the impermeable layer by extending a tool into the wellbore without a rig to remove the casing and cement along a selected portion of the wellbore along the impermeable layer to form a cavity with a shoulder, and etching at least one continuous groove in the impermeable layer at the interface to generate a pathway for borehole fluid to move upwards and above the prepared interface; deploying, using a wellbore bismuth alloy deployment tool, a bismuth alloy into the wellbore at the prepared interface and into the casing above the prepared interface; causing the deployed bismuth alloy to become liquid; permitting the bismuth alloy to solidify in the wellbore to form a plug in the wellbore at the prepared interface and into the casing above the prepared interface, wherein a pressure difference between the alloy as it solidifies along a desired seal height distance and a fluid pressure in the wellbore below the alloy of the plug forces fluid in the pathway upwards.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, prior to deploying the bismuth alloy into the wellbore, deploying a barrier in the wellbore just at or below the at least one continuous groove in the impermeable layer at the interface and determining an amount of the bismuth alloy to deploy, wherein determining the amount of bismuth alloy comprises determining a volume of bismuth alloy V substantially according to V=πr_(c) ²H+π(r_(b) ²−r_(c) ²)H_(c)+V_(u), wherein r_(b) is the radius of the cavity, r_(c) is the radius of the casing, V_(u) is the volume in the barrier below the cavity, H_(c) is the height of the cavity where the casing and cement is removed, and H is a melted alloy height required to obtain the pressure difference. 